Thousands March in Istanbul to Support Palestine and Protest Israeli Actions in Gaza
A massive march in support of Palestine and against Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip began in Istanbul on January 1, with reports of hundreds of thousands of people participating. The march, organized under the umbrella of the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), started after morning prayers at iconic mosques in the city, including Ayasofya, Sultan Ahmet, Fatih, Süleymaniye, and Eminönü.
The event, which was called for by the “Platform of the National Will” saw participants waving Turkish and Palestinian flags and setting off flares. Some attendees wore traditional Palestinian kufiyas in a show of solidarity with the Gaza Strip.
The march’s slogan, “Yesterday Hagia Sophia, today the Umayyad Mosque, tomorrow the Al-Aqsa Mosque” reflects a statement made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the past, in which he expressed his dream of restoring the Ottoman Empire, which once included Syria and Jerusalem.
Bilal Erdogan, the president’s son, delivered a speech at the event, saying, “We have come here to condemn the genocide in Gaza and to express our support for Palestine. The Hagia Sophia was opened, the Umayyad Mosque was liberated, and now we are here for the Al-Aqsa Mosque.”
No one should think that Turkey is sleeping, Bilal Erdogan added, “No one should think that Muslims are sleeping when the world is sleeping. No, we are awake, we are alive, and we are standing together with our anger, our protests, slogans, and prayers. Gaza is not alone, Palestine is not defenseless, Syria is not alone.”
Another speaker, Abdullah Ceylan, the chairman of the ÖNDER Association of Imams and Hafizes, threatened Israel, saying, “You oppressors should now be afraid. Let fear enter your hearts. Oh, you oppressors, know that you will all be defeated and sent to hell. Oh, brothers from Gaza and Palestine, who are gathered here today, fighters in spirit, who love Palestine, stand up, boycott, pray, fight, shout the truth, for the dawn is near, victory is near, and victory will be for the faithful.